Inca Cantera trek is the perfect alternative trek for those who like to explore much less crowded routes off the beaten track. This ancient Inca trail was built by the Incas 500 years ago and is still used by the locals today.
The Inca Quarry Trek takes hikers to beautiful, secluded waterfalls, traditional Andean communities, and the largest quarry in the Inca Empire. You will learn about life in these isolated villages, the Inca culture and enjoy the different landscapes, from the Sacred Valley to the high Andean mountains, and spend an unforgettable day exploring Machu Picchu, one of the most incredible places on the planet.
Highlights of the Inca Quarry Trail
Price per person
To reserve the Inca Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu, you must make an initial payment of 50 USD per person, the remaining balance can be paid online, in installments or in Cusco with any credit card without any reservation fee.
Student discount:
All travelers under the age of 17 will get $35. If you are 25 or younger at the time of travel, you can get the $35 discount with your student ID. Please notify us by email to give you a code for the discount.
Summary day by day Cachicata Trek
Day 1: Cusco – Racca – Soqma Falls – Korimarca:
After being picked up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am, drive to the town of Racca to begin
the Inca Quarry Trek to Machu Picchu. The trek lasts 6 hours, visiting Ñaupa Iglesia (2967m /
9734ft), the village of Soqma, the waterfalls of Perolniyoc and the Inca site of Rayanpata. We
camp in the town of Korimarca (3,611 m / 11,847 ft).
Day 2: Korimarca – Inti Punku – Choquetacarpus:
Wake up with a cup of coffee or coca tea in your tent, have breakfast and begin the 4-hour
ascent to the Charkahuaylla pass (4450 m / 14599 ft). After lunch, visit the Inca site
Intipunku (gate of the sun) and enjoy the incredible views of the snow-capped mountains.
Camp at Choquetacarpo (3600m / 11811ft).
Day 3: Choquetacarpo – Inca Quarry – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes:
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, descend for 3 hours to the Inca Cachiccata Quarry,
considered one of the largest Inca quarries in Cusco. Lunch is a particular barbecue
“Pachamanca”. Then continue to Ollantaytambo and I took the train to Aguas Calientes.
Spend the night in a hotel.
Day 4: Explore Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco:
On the last day, get up early and take the first buses to Machu Picchu. The guided
tour begins with a short visit to Intipunku or Puente Inca. Then, explore the Inca
stone temples and grand palaces. You will have time to explore on your own and
then take the panoramic Vistadome train back to Cusco. Arrival around 7:30 pm.
DAY 1: CUSCO – RACCA – SOQMA – KORIMARCA
The Sacred Expeditions Peru team will pick you up from your hotel at 7:00 am and
will drive you for 2 hours to the community of Racca, located in the Sacred Valley
(You must have breakfast at your hotel for this tour). The Quarry Trail trek begins
by visiting the ancient Inca sanctuary of Ñaupa Iglesia (2967m / 9734ft). This is by
far one of the most mysterious Inca sites in the entire region. Then, continue
hiking for 2 hours to the community of Soqma (3188m/10459ft), where your
trekking chef will prepare lunch using fresh local produce. After lunch, explore the
town, interact with the local villagers and gain an understanding of their humble
lifestyles and cultures. The second part of our trek is a 2-3 hour hike uphill to the
Perolniyoc waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Cusco with a drop of
328 feet in the rock. The views from this location of the Soqma Valley, the Maras
Plateau and the snow-capped mountains are spectacular. The camp is near the
archaeological zone in the town of Korimarca (3611m / 11847ft).
Wake up early with a hot cup of coffee or coca tea. Today is the most challenging
and yet the most beautiful day of this Sacred Expeditions Peru! After breakfast, it is
a 4-hour uphill hike to the Charkahuaylla pass (4450m/14599ft). At the top, you can
take a well-deserved rest and enjoy the fantastic views of the snow-capped peaks
of the Urubamba mountain range and the mystical Sacred Valley of the Incas. At
the same time, your tour guide performs a traditional offering ceremony to the
mountain Apus (mountain spirits). Then continue the quarry hike in the mountains
to the Andean lake of Marcacocha (4000m/13100ft). This is a perfect place for
lunch. Later in the afternoon, Apu Buena Negra (4370m/14300ft) starts to climb
the second and last mountain of the trek.
Upon reaching the top, your efforts will be rewarded with one of the most
spectacular views in the region. Then continue downhill for two more hours to
Intipunku (Sun Gate), a beautiful inlet that overlooks the majestic Veronica
Mountain (5,893m/19,334ft). Our camp is just a few minutes further at Choquetacarpo (3600m/11811ft).
DAY 3: CHOQUETACARPO – CACHICCATA QUARRY – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS
CALIENTES
The Choquetacarpo camp is a perfect place to enjoy the sunrise with a cup of
coffee. After breakfast, walk for 3 hours to the Cachiccata Quarry: the largest
quarry in the Inca Empire. Here your tour guide will teach you all about the
incredible techniques of the ancient Inca stonemasons, as well as about their lives
and customs. You will be amazed by the huge rocks that the Incas transported and
carved without the help of modern technology. This quarry was abandoned along
with Machu Picchu and many other Inca sites during the Spanish invasion. As we
follow the ancient Inca route used to transfer the rocks to Ollantaytambo, we will
stop for a Pachamanca barbecue lunch and interact with local villagers in the
Cachiccata community. Here our private bus will be waiting for us to take us to
Ollantaytambo to explore these ancient streets and the water channel that has
been in use since the time of the Incas. After dinner, take the 7:00 pm train to
Aguas Calientes for an overnight hotel stay.
On our last day, wake up early and get ready for the highlights of your tour. After breakfast at the hotel, take the first bus to Machu Picchu. Arriving as the sky lightens, the tour begins with a short walk to Puerta del Sol or the Inca
Bridge, with incredible views of the city along the way. On a clear day, you can see the spectacular sunrise over Machu Picchu. Then, explore the temples, palaces, and streets. After the guided tour, take some time to explore on your own or climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (tickets must be reserved where possible).
Once you finish exploring Machu Picchu, you will take the bus to Aguas Calientes, enjoy lunch (not included), and in the afternoon, take the train panoramic Vistadome back to Cusco. Return to your hotel around 7:30 pm.
Tips (optional)
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Optional walks after the tour to Machu Picchu:
Huayna Picchu Mountain –Tickets are an additional $75 per person. To reserve this mountain, you must book well in advance; the climb takes 2 hours round trip.
Machu Picchu Mountain –Tickets are an additional $75 per person. You must book in advance, and it is the highest mountain around Machu Picchu with a total of 3 hours of hiking round trip.